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Flash Point

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Overview

Reality TV meets a chillingly realistic version of America–and the fame game is on!

Amy had dreams of going to college, until the Collapse destroyed the economy and her future. Now she is desperate for any job that will help support her terminally ill grandmother and rebellious younger sister. When she finds herself in the running for a slot on a new reality TV show, she signs on the dotted line, despite her misgivings. And she’s right to have them. TLN’s Who Knows People, Baby–You? has an irresistible premise: correctly predict what the teenage cast will do in a crisis and win millions. But the network has pulled strings to make it work, using everything from 24/7 hidden cameras to life-threatening technology to flat-out rigging. Worse, every time the ratings slip, TLN ups the ante. Soon Amy is fighting for her life–on and off camera.

Praise

“High energy momentum that will keep the pages turning… readers really will want to find out what happens to their faves.”—Booklist

“During an economic downturn there is always a flash point, when things can either get better or become a complete disaster. Amy, a teenager during the flash point, had dreams of an academic future until the downturn hit in the worst ways. She is desperate for any job that will help support her terminally ill grandmother and her defiant younger sister. When she is offered a steady salary, medical care for her entire family, and the chance of a lifetime on a new reality TV show, she can’t turn it down. The risks for this show get more extreme and the rewards continue to grow. The line between reality and TV are starting to blur, and soon Amy is asking herself what is worth risking her life. Kress captivates the reader from start to finish by creating characters that come to life within this gripping plot. This book is hard to put down!”—LMC

“Amy, 16; her sister; and their sick grandmother are just barely making ends meet since the “Collapse.” Amy works a low-paying job to cover the rent on their rundown apartment. When she stumbles into a job interview at a television station, she’s offered a spot on a new show called Who Knows People, Baby–You?–complete with a cash advance and full medical benefits for her family. In this new reality show, viewers vote on what they think the six participants from vastly different backgrounds will do in each new situation presented. The voters can win large sums of money for being good judges of human nature. But for the teens on the show, waiting for the next surprise scenario to unfold becomes extremely stressful. As interest in the show reaches a fever pitch, producers will stop at nothing to get the ratings they need, even putting the contestants in grave danger. This is a high-interest book, but the high page count will scare off reluctant readers. However, for those who get hooked, it is a real page-turner. Several of the teens on the show are true individuals, easy to remember and realistic in their responses to the scenarios. With the moral dilemmas it poses, both in interactions among the teens and on the part of the station’s adults, this would be an excellent novel to prompt discussions about reality TV and ethics.”–SLJ